The NSB holds a rally in the RAI

NSB

The Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (National Socialist Movement) starts as a fascist party whose main aim is to establish an authoritarian state. Influenced by developments in Nazi Germany, the NSB becomes more radical and anti-Semitic. During the occupation the NSB works openly with the Nazis. After the war the party is forbidden and many members are arrested and put on trial.

1934 Limited admission of refugees

Only a limited number of refugees from Nazi Germany are admitted into the Netherlands starting from June. Amsterdam is also suffering from the world economic crisis. Supporters of different political movements clash regularly.

1935 Safe in the new neighbourhood

Anne Frank goes to school. In the new neighbourhood where she lives she is able to play happily with her friends. But in the old centre of Amsterdam there are more and more anti-Semitic actions by Nazi supporters.

1938 Many Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht

Many Jewish refugees flee to the Netherlands after Kristallnacht. Princess Juliana also feels connected to the Jewish community. But while more attention is drawn to the admittance of more Jews, NSB members threaten more intervention.

1942 It becomes more dangerous for Jews

On her thirteenth birthday Anne Frank receives a diary. A few days later she writes about the situation in Amsterdam. The introduction of the Jewish star and the raids. In July the Frank family goes into hiding.

1942 It becomes more dangerous for Jews

1942

One day Greetje had gone. She had left the Schouwburg. Disappeared. As if she had never been there.

1943 Deportations and attacks

While the Frank family is in hiding thousands of Jews are deported from Amsterdam. The resistance tries to hinder the deportations by attacks including one on the Public Registry. It doesn’t stop them.

1943 Deportations and attacks

1943

‘…as the reports from outside grow worse and worse, the radio with its wondrous voice, helps us not to lose heart…

1944 Discovered and arrested

On 4 August the people in hiding in the secret annex are discovered and arrested. From Westerbork they are taken to Auschwitz. When the Allies land in the south of the Netherlands there is hope that the country will be liberated. German soldiers and NSB members flee the country after Dolle Dinsdag (‘Mad Tuesday’).

1945 Joy and sadness

A celebration at the Dam on 7 May is ruined when people are killed after German soldiers shoot at the crowd. On 8 May Amsterdam is officially liberated. Otto Frank returns. He knows that Edith is dead. He only hears later that his two daughters have not survived.

1946 Slowly the threads are picked up again

On 3 May 1946 the first official commemoration for those who died during the war is held. Anne Frank’s diary is published on 25 June 1947. Life in Amsterdam slowly gets back to normal. Of the 70,000 Jews who lived in the city in 1940 only 10,000 have survived the war.

1946 Slowly the threads are picked up again

1946

To me, however, this apparently inconsequential diary by a child... stammered out in a child's voice, embodies all the hideousness of fascism, more so than all the evidence at Nuremberg put together.

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Bird’s eye view of Anne Frank’s Amsterdam

View the most important places with their story from Anne Frank’s Amsterdam. Click to the Timeline and see how Amsterdam changed from being a safe haven in 1933 to an occupied city. Zoom in by clicking on the plus sign on the left. This way you can click more easily on the places on the map